Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-07-28

TIE CHEoSIcIK last week published . serial
Ne Of twelve short chapters. There was not
one specification in the list which has not been
fully and completely shown to be untrue by this
paper. Among these TEE CHRONICLE clings to
the exploded boomsrangs in regard TO Auditor
Barrett about the alleged decrease in personal
returns in the county under Democratic rule in
the Auditors Office, the old railroad assessment
chestnut and others. Auditor Darrah has been
in the Office all through the last personal as
sessment. de says in effect that if the Auditor
has any power, Mr.. LOngley has failed to show
him where it is. We have already shown that
the railroads are assessed lower this year under
the Republican Auditor than they were under
any Democratic! Auditor. There is no great in
crease in personal returns except in q few pre-
ciActs where Democratic assessors did ths work
Notably in Richland township. But these
questions have already been fully met and an
swered in the Gazette, and have been perused
by readers all over the county.-Gazette.
THE CHRONICLE has invariably copied
cer6dtim all material allegations of the
Gazette, in order that its readers might
see exactly what charges we're made, and
has endeavored to fairly answer them.
The Gazette, on the other hand, has in
varisbly gsrbled when undertaking to
quote from The CHRONICLE. and not in
single instance has il laid before its
readers specification of malsdministra-
tion by Democratic ofice-bolders, so that
they may see exactly what was charged
against those they have elected to Office.
A dozen of them have been made. Nor
has it undertaken to disprove one of
them, except by general denial.
Exploded boomerangs." Boonerangs,
they are, Mr.. Gazette. but when were
they exploded, and by whomP
Does the Gazette deny that the sg-
gregate of the personal tax returns of
1886, leaving oot the growth of corpora
tions, was less than fifteen years ago
We have asserted thst it was, and are
we prepared to prove it, and We are pre-
pared to demonstrate that Democratic
County Auditor is mainly responsible
for it.
That ex-Auditor Barrett overcharged
S172 IA for assessing railroads in 1884.
'S5, SO, was clearly demonstrated in
these columns May 10. His bills were
printed, exactly as rendered by him, and
it was shown exactly in what the over
charges consisted. 1t was for that the
Democratic Auditor WAS criticised. not
because of the appraisement of their
property. The Auditor of this county
is but one of several that compose the
board Of appraisers. We have no knowl-
edge of Mr.. Barrett's course in the board
of appraisers, but we do know that Au
ditor Darrsh tried to increase the valua>
tion of the Baltimore and Ohio, and in
this connection our readers will remem-
Der that we have criticised adversely
the State Board of Equalization of rail-
road property.
Within one month the public will be
shown that there has been very large
increase in the personal returns of the
county.
We assert again that the Auditor of
the county is mainly responsible for lax
execution of the tax laws. The listing
of property is made under his direction.
If be is vigilaat and courageous and in
telligent in the discharge of his duty,the
tax laws will be enforced; if he is not,
they will not be. True, Richland town.
ship was we'll assessed this year. and we
award Assessor Miller great credit for
his work; but If no interest had been
taken in the matter by the Auditor
there is little doubt the showing would
have been very different one.
Of course Auditor Darrah says in ef-
feet" no such thing as alledged by the
Gazette.
AS to the Gazette's declaration about
railroad assessments. the following table